Kiki Ebsen’s Joni Mitchell Project was performed at Bogies at the Westlake Village Inn on Sunday, September 17th.
With her classy, elegant presence and hauntingly earthy vocals, Ebsen’s delivery of Mitchell’s songs was genius. Backed up by brilliant musicians, Grant Geissman (guitars), Terry Wollman (guitars), Steven Lawrence (bass), and Matt Starr (drums) the entire evening offered one hit after the other. The audience was transported through the many decades that Mitchell’s compositions thrilled the listener’s ear.
The glorious backdrops of colors, flowers, stars, and many other hip designs, provided the perfect scenery for Kiki Ebsen’s sterling performance. The show began with “Help Me” and we hear Ms. Ebsen’s voice ring out so strongly as she is backed by Terry Wollman’s classy strumming on the acoustic guitar and Grant Geissman’s lightning fast finger picking on the electric guitar. On “Just Like This Train” Kiki sent her voice upwards in a superb atonal riff. Terry Wollman played the harmonica (never knew he played that instrument but did it well.) on “Chelsea Morning” and Kiki trilled her voice in the most exquisite manner.
On “Clouds” there was some flower power happening behind the band and we saw colorful flowers circling on the screen with lovely lights. Grant Geissman’s guitar playing flowed with his special bright tone sound. The song created a floating and pensive mood. Kiki Ebsen’s delivery of Joni Mitchell’s caustic witty commentary “Big Yellow Taxi.” sparked the room. What would a tribute Joni Mitchell concert be without the Anthem song of the 1960’s… “Woodstock?” The band rocked out with fierce guitar solos by Grant Geissman and Terry Wollman. Great fun!
Kiki Ebsen plopped the ultimate musical cherry on the scrumptious, rich dessert of Joni Mitchell’s songs… just as Mitchell blasted off to the highest range and then dived down to the lowest registers, Ebsen perfectly executed the vocals this evening. Kiki Ebsen and the Joni Mitchell Project band handled this complex music with masterful phrasing and changing of tempos with such ease and grace.
For more information on Kiki Ebsen go to: https://www.kikiebsen.com
